MIAMI – The FIU softball dropped a pair of games during the opening day of the FIU Softball Invitational on Friday as the Panthers were defeated 13-3 in the opener by South Dakota, before falling 6-2 to Stony Brook in the nightcap.
 
Corrine Badger gave Stony Brook an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first with a shot to center field – it marked her third home run after hitting two in an earlier win on Friday against Drexel.  The blast drove home Alicia Orosco and Lindsey Osmer, who reach earlier in the frame on a single and walk.
 
The Sea Wolves added two more runs in the top of the second.  The first run scored on a steal attempt of second that saw Nicole McCarville score from third an attempted throw to second.  Stony Brook added the second run to make it 5-0 on an RBI triple by Kyra McFarland.
 
Badger extended the lead to 6-0 with a solo shot in the top of the fifth off FIU starter Alexys Lawson (3-5), who took the loss after allowing seven hits and six runs over 7.0 innings of work.
 
The Panthers scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to avoid the shutout.
 
South Dakota's Tatum Villota hit a grand slam inside-the-park home run to key a six-run sixth inning that led to a 13-3 defeat for the FIU softball team in its opening game at the FIU Invitational on Friday afternoon.
 
Freshman Brooke McCann drove home Carmen Perez with an RBI triple to right that put the Panthers in front 1-0 in the bottom of the second.  FIU added a second run in the frame when Brianna Hill crossed the plate on a fielder's choice by Bailey Grossenbacher.
 
South Dakota tied the game with a pair of runs in the top of the third.  Courtney Wilson plated Tatum Villotta with an RBI single and Wilson scored on a base hit by Gabby Moser.
 
Madison Lewis put the Panthers back in front 3-2 in the bottom of the third when she scored on a fielder's choice by Gabby Ruiz after reaching on a walk – before South Dakota took control in the sixth.
 
FIU starter Kendahl Dunford (1-3) allowed six runs on eight hits over 4.1 innings of work in taking the loss.  She struck out four and walked one. 
 
USD's Clara Edwards (5-2) earned the win after going the full seven inning and limiting the Panthers to three unearned runs and five hits.  Edwards fanned eight batters and issued four walks.
 
UP NEXT:  The Panthers (4-9) return to action with a pair of games on Saturday, Feb. 26 at FIU Softball Stadium.
 
FIU will open the day's action against Drexel in a 2 p.m. ET start before facing Brown at 7 p.m. ET.
 
2022 FIU Softball Invitational Schedule
at FIU Softball Stadium
 
Friday, Feb. 25
9 a.m.               Drexel (4) vs. Brown (3) - FINAL
11:30 a.m.        Brown (0) vs. South Dakota (2) - FINAL
2 p.m.               Stony Brook (5) vs. Drexel (3) - FINAL
4:30 p.m.          FIU (3) vs. South Dakota (13) - FINAL
7 p.m.               FIU (2) vs. Stony Brook (6) - FINAL
 
Saturday, Feb. 26
9 a.m.               Drexel vs. South Dakota
11:30 a.m.        South Dakota vs. Stony Brook
2 p.m.               FIU vs. Drexel
4:30 p.m.          Stony Brook vs. Brown
7 p.m.               FIU vs. Brown
 
Sunday, Feb. 27
9 a.m.               Stony Brook vs. South Dakota
11:30 a.m.        FIU vs. Brown
2 p.m.               FIU vs. Drexel
 
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